Anya Taylor-Joy Shares Reaction to Furiosa’s Arm Loss in ‘Mad Max’
British-American actress Anya Taylor-Joy sheds light on why Furiosa sports only one arm in the upcoming prequel, ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,’ directed by George Miller. The film serves as the origin story for the character initially portrayed by Charlize Theron in the 2015 hit.
Imperator Furiosa, known for her distinctive features—a mechanical arm, shaved head, and fierce demeanour—captured audiences’ attention in ‘Fury Road’ without a clear explanation of her backstory. Now, Taylor-Joy, 28, reveals to Entertainment Weekly, “The loss of the arm and the loss of the hair were important steps to show how this little girl became the character we all know and love.”
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The actress shares her reaction to reading the scene in Miller’s script where Furiosa loses her arm, expressing that it resonated with her. After young Furiosa, portrayed by Alyla Browne, is abducted from the Green Place to the Wasteland by biker warlord Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth, she seeks refuge in the Citadel of Immortan Joe, portrayed by Lachy Hulme.
Years later, during an escape attempt with oil rig driver Praetorian Jack, played by Tom Burke, Furiosa’s arm is crushed by car wheels as they encounter Dementus’ gang. Forced to witness Jack’s torture, Furiosa is left hanging from a chain on her injured arm. Eventually, she escapes, leaving her severed arm behind.
“It made sense to me because this character is incredibly resilient—she just refuses to give up. It felt right that she would lose her arm in pursuit of something she believed in,” Taylor-Joy explains to EW.
At 79, Miller plans three Mad Max follow-ups, starting with the 1979 original, using ‘Fury Road’ to kickstart two prequels: one focusing on Furiosa’s backstory and another on Tom Hardy’s Max.
“In preparing for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, we also wrote about what happened to Max in the year leading up to the events of that film,” Miller reveals to EW. After Furiosa’s escape from Dementus, barely alive after self-amputation, Max likely brings her to safety at the Citadel. Miller hints at Max’s presence, with a backstory planned that the writers hope to explore someday.
– Farheen Ali
